FACT CHECK: Harper’s crime agenda doesn’t tackle violent crime

Stephen Harper was in Saskatoon talking about crime today, but did not commit to the kinds of changes Canadians need to be safe in their communities.

The Harper Conservatives:

• Oppose a ban on handguns.
• Have no plan to invest in additional policing.
• Ignore the ongoing problems with witness protection and have no plans to fix the serious problems in Canada’s witness protection system.

New Democrats have committed to serious measures, going straight to the heart of violent crime:

• 2,500 more police officers on the street.
• Re-classifying auto theft as a violent offence.
• Allowing first-degree murder charges for gang related homicides.
• Making drive-by shootings and firing at a building indictable offences.
• Invest $25 million over the next four years to strengthen witness protection.
• Invest $50 million a year for crime prevention strategies.
• Giving provinces and cities the ability to implement an “absolute ban” on handguns.